Indy Open 2025

I was recently honored to be invited to MC the 2v2 battle portion of the Indy Open 2025. This opportunity holds special significance for me, as I also had the privilege of MCing the very first event years ago.

Reflecting on the experience, I wish I had taken more photos. When you’re fully immersed in the moment, focusing on your responsibilities, it can be challenging to pause and capture those memories. Nonetheless, I am incredibly grateful for the chance to be part of such a fantastic event.

For those who may not be familiar, the Indy Open was founded by IndyDevera, Kayla Devera, and Christopher Carrington. It is an annual hip-hop dance competition held in Indianapolis, IN, and hosted by Xiphos Corps at IUPUI.

This is their purpose:

Our purpose is to provide a platform for performance to urban dance teams around Indianapolis and the greater Midwest. In turn, we hope that this event builds the dance community and provides a space for teams to share their work.

The format:

This year, in addition to the Choreography competition, the event featured an exciting 2v2 street dance battle, where pairs of dancers went head-to-head in a freestyle format. This initiative aims to unite the Street Dance and Choreography communities, fostering collaboration and bridging the gap between these two vibrant art forms.

Reflection:

Projects like this fill me with immense pride for the Indiana dance community, especially with leaders like the Indy Open team dedicated to sustaining events that keep the spirit of dance alive in our state. Seeing so many dancers gathered in one space, sharing smiles and enjoying their time together, brings me immense joy.

Here is a quick recap video of the event:

So much more happened, but this was what I could capture.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Indy, Kayla, Chris, DJ Just Nice, DJ Dezzy Dezz, Edge (Co MC), and everyone from Purdue, Martinsville, Chicago, Carmel, and all across the Midwest for their incredible support and participation in this event. Your enthusiasm and dedication helped create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. It’s truly inspiring to see our dance community come together, and I am grateful for each of you who contributed to making this event a success. Thank you for your hard work, passion, and for being a part of this amazing journey!